Driving at over a hundred miles per hour is not for the faint-hearted. While many of us would love to feel or experience the speed, we’re often stopped by safety concerns. Yet, there are some whose very lifestyle is on the tracks and at high speeds. Lewis Hamilton is one of such individuals, arguably one of the best drivers of all time.
Born and raised in London, England, Hamilton joined the McLaren Young Drivers program at 13. Now a Knight of the United Kingdom, Hamilton’s feats are not limited to the racing track. While he was raised in Stevenage, the high-brow environment and school weren’t enough to shield him from racism and bullies.
“My mum was wonderful, and she so loved. But she didn’t fully understand the impact of the things I was experiencing at school. The bullying and being picked on. And my dad was quite tough, so I didn’t tell him too much about those experiences. As a kid, I remember just staying quiet about it because I didn’t feel anyone understood. I did boxing because I needed to channel the pain,” he said. Hamilton also took up karate to defend himself from bullies and getting beat up.
This article looks at some of the feats that make Lewis Hamilton a top favorite for the 2021 British Grand Prix at f1 betting sites worldwide.
Five Facts about Lewis Hamilton
1. Lewis Hamilton Is Youngest Driver To Win The Formula One Championship
Going into his debut season, few will have expected Lewis Hamilton to achieve as much as he did – finishing one point behind Kimi Raikkonen to take second place. He improved on this the following season, winning the Formula One Championship at 23 to become the youngest ever to do it. While this record has now been broken, no one will forget Hamilton’s overtake in the closing race of the season to pip the title.
2.The Most Successful Driver Ever?
Lewis Hamilton boasts the record for the most won races in Formula 1 history. The British driver has 98 wins in total, with 100 pole positions and 171 podium finishes. He is joint-tied with Michael Schumacher for the highest World Driver Championship victories (seven). He also holds the record for the most points in a debut season and the joint most wins in a debut season. In addition to his exploits on the racecourse, Hamilton also played cricket and football in his school days alongside former Premier League star Ashley Young.
3.Destined For The Fast Lane
Hamilton showed signs of what was to come early on, winning the British Cadet Karting Championship when he was just ten years old. According to Ron Dennis, the young Hamilton approached him for an autograph later that night to tell the McLaren boss about his desire to drive the company’s cars. Several stints across Formula A, Super A, Formula 3, and the GP2 showed the world Hamilton was ready for prime time. Praises from Michael Schumacher further cemented the public perception of Hamilton’s potential.
4.Four consecutive World Championships
Between 2017 and 2020, Hamilton went from three world titles to matching Schumacher’s records for the most driver titles in the sport. By winning four successive titles in that period, Hamilton became just the third driver to achieve this feat in the sport’s history. His 2018 victory over Sebastian Vettel was iconic as both men were hunting for their fifth World Championship. This win was rewarded with a new £100m contract by Mercedes and allowed the driver to retain his image rights, trophies, and championship-winning cars – the first deal of its kind in F1.
5.National Honours And Racism
As the first and only man of color in Formula One to date, Lewis Hamilton has suffered from racist comments and abuse. Unfortunately, this has been a constant feature since his car racing debut in 2007. Despite the odds, Hamilton has responded powerfully on the racecourse and with philanthropy, partnering with UNICEF and an eponymously named foundation to assist children worldwide.
His exemplary conduct has not gone unnoticed as he was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2008. A knighthood followed this in 2020. Now one of the household names in F1 history, Lewis Hamilton is a popular figure worldwide and featured on the 100 most influential men in 2020 by Time Magazine. Other awards and honors conferred on the driver include Gazzetta World Sportsman of the Year (twice), BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, Pride of Britain Awards, and the Breakthrough of the Year Award.
The 2021 British Grand Prix
As the British Grand Prix rolls into town, Hamilton and close rival Verstappen are sure to rank high on punters’ picks at F1 betting sites. With the new F1 sprint race, it will be interesting how fast these drivers can go in a short distance. The F1 sprint is a newly introduced 17-lap, 100km sprint that will see drivers race about one-third of the usual racecourse. At 36 years of age, Hamilton will hope to finish the GP strong in his quest to win an eighth title.
Interestingly, the new race is free from the usual compulsory pit stops, and drivers will be allowed to make tire choices. The goal is to enable drivers to race at their best and without inhibition. As it stands, Verstappen is thirty-two points ahead of Hamilton in the Championship race and is looking for his first title win. However, punters should be mindful that the latter will be competing in front of home fans and has won seven Grand Prix events at this ground.
If you are a lover of fast cars and champagne, then this year’s British grand Prix is a must-watch. Let us know your predictions and anticipated clashes in the comments section ahead of July 15’s flag off.
